Trash Pickup Delayed 1 Day; Fire Hydrants Need Help Digging-Out Again

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Residential trash pickup is running on a 1-day delayed schedule as a result of Monday’s snowstorm, Royal Carting, which is now a division of Casella Sanitation, confirmed to A Little Beacon Blog on Tuesday.

Pictures of snow covered fire hydrants, provided by the Beacon Fire Department, showing what a properly dug out hydrant looks like. They ask the community to help dig them out.

Fire hydrants will also need dug out again by community members to help the Beacon Fire Department. While the Fire Department dug out several fire hydrants last snowstorm, the public was asked to help dig. There are 600 public fire hydrants in the City of Beacon.

“We once again ask City residents to please shovel and remove snow away from hydrants in or close to your property!” the City of Beacon Fire Department said via their Facebook page.

“…If you can’t see the hydrant, that means we can’t either! This will save us valuable time that may save your life in the event of a fire!”

For those who have dug out, good job. Space is running out for where to put the snow in residential areas. One foot is expected again for next week. Get some Epsom salt for your bath soak.

ALBB Goes Into Hyper Focus Mode To Fine-Tune Branding; From Baby Blocks to Chickens to Fonts

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The time has come to tweak the logo again at A Little Beacon Blog. As ALBB publishes harder news stories and communicates with Communication Directors and Crisis Manager PR firms hired by companies we may write articles about, ALBB needed to make sure the logo is locked in to handle the responses from readers, companies and municipalities.

While maintaining the friendly, fresh air feel ALBB is known for. Might debate the word “friendly,” since people who don’t like certain articles will turn around that word to demand ALBB be more “nice.” Since ALBB has picked up the nickname La Diabla Blanca after this article, we’ll stick with “breath of fresh air.”

Plus, people request ALBB’s Media Kit. Which is a respectable and professional thing to do. We’ve just always had advertising pricing on the Media Kit web page. But people want it in a PDF. Like a book. Therefore. This has resulted in a pause in writing in order for visual thinking to take over and get this done.

Hyper Focus Mode Activated

Some who know me (Katie) behind the scenes know that I have been working on this Media Kit for years and years. There is a weird mental block to finishing it. “Hyper Focus Mode” means that everything else pauses. All article writing stops (except for emergencies, like snow plowing or water main breaks). Blaze Gomez over at News 12 has it covered in the ICE facility in Chester, NY, so we will run a catch-up article on the nonsense in Chester, NY (Orange County) that has been transpiring there.

It is very frustrating to not write the articles, because you want The Beacon News. And so do we. Additionally, ALBB clients want their ideas for advertising messages delivered to you in a way that you love and value. Bouncing around creative corners of my mind is my specialty. It is a trait I have embraced as a gift. To pour into everyone. Other people’s success does bring me such joy.

But the time has come to fill my own cup. To secure my own self financially. And that begins in branding.

Therefore…To Instagram! “Readers: What Do You Think!?”

I took it to Instagram. Uploading a video of WIP (Work In Progress) is instantaneous at Instagram. First thoughts go there sometimes.

First step was to address the cursive in the logo. I love cursive. I write in cursive. Cursive is a dying script in this country, leaving it unreadable to many. I find this a benefit. If I write in cursive, it can be my secret language.

The logo currently uses the font called Very Berry. Which is very “cutesy". While A Little Beacon Blog’s logo originated in extreme cutesy, it graduated to be primarily black, via use of a chalkboard black, to sync with chalkboard signs out on the sidewalks that businesses use. More of a sophisticated look.

In the present time, I am keeping this base of black. And the name. But I took to change the font. Which generated some reader response (scroll down):

One longtime reader, after seeing the above video at Instagram, wrote in moments later to cling to the original font. “There will be chaos!!” they said. “Why fix what ain’t broke?”

Point taken. But is it working? Are the logo and fonts working? Now that we are swimming with more sharks? Now that a newspaper (Times Union) actually refused to publish (and deleted!) the article about how some anonymous letter writer targeted 20+ businesses in Beacon, demanding they protest A Little Beacon Blog after we started covering Palestine?

(If you didn’t know about this, no worries…I didn’t publish it…I was too afraid of too many things to publish it…but this article will be published soon…)

The main takeaway from the reader’s warning of the font change was…Wow. The readers do care, and do feel that A Little Beacon Blog’s brand identity is part of their own. This is a heart-moving moment.

A Little Beacon Blog’s Original Logo Circa 2011 - Baby Blocks and Chickens

To ease the fear of the transition, I realized it is time to remind current readers of A Little Beacon Blog’s original logo. Only my mother may remember this logo, and when I wanted to change it, believe me, she lamented the change. This is back when A Little Beacon Blog was based in Blogger, which was Google’s free blog platform. When I changed the logo, I also changed the platform to Squarespace. We ported the content from Blogger to Squarespace and continued on.

The original logo was inspired by the blocks of art down by the Beacon train station that welcomed people leaving the train station. I was mildly obsessed with the letter blocks at the time.

A Little Beacon Blog took inspiration from those art blocks, to create baby blocks (pictured below). I had just had my first baby. Baby Brain was in full swing, and I was surrounded by gorgeously illustrated baby books.

The letter blocks sat on undeveloped property owned by a friend of then Councilperson George Mansfield. Through that arrangement, an art installation of the blocks was created. But when the developer was ready to build what is now the townhouse apartments on that land, the art blocks were removed.

As you can see from the video below of the original logo, the font was quite sophisticated. A sharp serif for the letters in the blocks, and a grown-up script that you might find on a fancy menu for the letters outside of the blocks.

I reassured the reader that I was not changing the name, but was tweaking the font.

“The font must be legible.”

True. True. However. People have taken A Little Beacon Blog to be their own. They have abbreviated it. Some called it “Little Beacon Blog” or “LBB.” This is an acronym I never imagined. People for years have been calling it “The Beacon Blog.” Which is an amazing honor, because how can we be The One!

One reader said, when the tipping point just began several years ago: “I guess you won’t be so little anymore.” I took that to heart, because while A Little Beacon Blog might and does grow, my fascination with little details that lead into big things remains.

Therefore, a question: does the word “little” have significance here? Would people miss it if the word “little” was omitted? I mean. I go back and forth on this. I love the word “little” in here. But. It does undermine the blog. I invites people to beat it up. On the other hand, that can serve advantageous as people underestimate it.

Therefore. The name will not change.

However, part of the name may hide in the cursive font for those of us who know what it says.

Another longtime ALBB reader responded to this video and wrote in: “I don’t remember this logo.” The reader is a formerly quoted reader who’s blog name is Citizen Cowboy. “Were there always chickens?”

Yes. There were always chickens in ALBB’s logo. There were always chickens because upon first moving here, when looking at houses, roosters could be heard in the distance. “People have backyard chickens,” the realtor said upon entering one of the houses for sale as a rooster crowed in the distance.

Backyard chickens seemed neat. I currently still get farm fresh eggs from someone who became a website and advertising client years after I first met her. So the chickens stay in the logo.

“The letter blocks look like your house,” Citizen Cowboy continued.

“It’s true,” I replied. “I painted my first baby’s room the robins egg blue with the brown scallops. I was putting scallops on everything.”

So that’s it. That’s the Origin Story of A Little Beacon Blog’s logo evolution.

What is super new in this logo is the addition of the green highway sign that is a nod to the Old Exit 11. Still pondering if that fits or not.

Onward to the tweaking of other elements of it.

VIDEO: City Council Meeting Recap 2/17/2026: David Ross Board of Assessment Speculation; Tioronda Attack Public Comment

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Tonight’s City Council Meeting has ended. It was in the new format that combined the regular City Council Meeting with Public Comment, with the Workshop which is discussion about topics or proposed legislation. This report covers a few Gold Nugget items that transpired during the meeting.

During Public Comment, one citizen speculated on the replacement of David Ross on the Board Of Assessment Review, after the discovery of his years long email and friendship with disgraced pedophile and sex trafficer Jeffrey Epstein from the Epstein Files, and his subsequent resignation from his position as chair of the MFA art practice program at New York’s School of Visual Arts (SVA), as reported by ARTNews after they broke the story.

Another citizen made a Public Comment demanding safety measures such as street lighting be put into place after the attack of the woman on Tioronda Avenue in January. An attack which remains unsolved.

Beacon High School Principal Responds To "Student-Organized Planned Walkout" Connected With National "ICE Out Strike"

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UPDATE: The video of this march that took place on January 30th has been published here in this article.

A national “ICE Out” strike has been planned for Friday, January 30th, as a peaceful yet powerful protest against ICE violence, demanding the abolishment of the federal agency. As reported by The Guardian: “For the first action on Friday, organizers, led by several student groups at the University of Minnesota, are calling for a ‘national shutdown’, which means: ‘No work. No school. No shopping. Stop funding ICE.’ The ‘blackout’ day, which many online are referring to as a “general strike”, is an effort to “shut down the economy”, organizers say.”

At least 8 people have been killed by ICE, with many more injured in the streets of their neighborhoods, their homes, and their cars. More injuries and deprivations have occurred in detention centers, where documentation is difficult to obtain. Some brown skin people who have been taken and released are simply dumped on the side of the road, one legal professional told A Little Beacon Blog on conditions of anonymity.

Students of Beacon High School allegedly began organizing a walkout of school in order to support the nation-wide protest. The high school’s Principal Corey Dwyer responded with an email to district families before the start of the school day, saying:

“We have been made aware that some students plan to walk out of school today at Noon as part of a series of protests and walkouts expected to take place around the country.

“As a district, we support our students’ rights to freedom of speech and expression. We do not endorse or oppose, nor do we organize, student walkouts or protests.

“Our top priority is student safety. Students who participate are expected to do so in a calm and orderly manner and without disrupting the educational environment for their classmates. Staff will monitor student movement in the building to help ensure safety. Students leaving campus are no longer under school supervision, and the district cannot monitor off-campus activities.

“Normal attendance rules apply. Students who are not in class will be marked absent; any absence not excused by a parent or guardian in accordance with our attendance policy will be unexcused.

“While peaceful participation in a student-organized walkout will not be subject to disciplinary action, any behavior that violates school rules, endangers safety, or disrupts instruction will result in consequences in accordance with the district's student code of conduct.

“We appreciate your understanding and support.”

Cars Need To Move From Public Parking Lots For Snow Removal To Continue - Subject To Towing

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Mounds of snow surround the public parking lot on Eliza Street.

Snow removal continues from the combined departments of the City Beacon’s Highway and Water Departments. According to the City of Beacon, 20 city employees have been involved in the effort to clear the roads, fire hydrants and parking lots of snow. Hudson Valley Post reports that Beacon received 17” of snow, sourcing the National Weather Service.

“Thank you again to our dedicated staff for their hard work,” the City said in an announcement on Facebook, “and thank you to their families who had to cover childcare and other demands while our staff came in and persevered through the storm. Job well done!”

Diggers and large snow blowers have been cutting the snow from curbs of Main Street and other areas of town. Snow removal has now prioritized to the public parking lots, with the City ordering all cars be removed from the public lots so that snow can be removed.

The City of Beacon Police have issued directions and a towing warning: “Starting Thursday (1/29) at 9am, we will begin enforcement of overtime parking in the City owned parking lots. Usually, you have 24 hours to move your vehicle after snow ends, however, due to the parking restrictions on Main Street, we have to give more time in those lots. However, if you leave your car in the lot, covered in snow and plowed in, you will likely be towed starting Thursday. If your car has been cleared, moved out and moved back into a space that is not full of snow, then you are okay.”

The City of Beacon has expressed that this is an all hands on deck situation to clear 50 miles of street, stating that the Highway and Water Departments have been working around the clock with little sleep. “City Police coordinated removal of cars blocking the plows, and our Fire Department is out helping to clear fire hydrants.”

City of Beacon Lifts Parking Ban Early; Dutchess County Lifts Travel Ban; Crews Continue Clearing

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The City of Beacon has lifted its city-wide street parking ban early, and Dutchess County has lifted its travel ban, allowing parking on City streets and county driving as of 12pm Monday, January 26th.

The City of Beacon has added a No Parking on Main Street ban the evenings of Tuesday and Wednesday, from 9pm to 9am the subsequent day, to allow for clearing and removal of snow from the area.

As for public parking lots: the City of Beacon said that all vehicles must be removed from municipal parking lots by Thursday morning at 9am to allow for public parking lots to be plowed.

Snowstorm Inside The Beacon Bubble: Grocery Shelves Stocked; Travel Ban; School Closed Monday; Police Say Cars Will Be Towed

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Snow fell as anticipated on Sunday morning. By now, all 3 local farmers markets had been closed; Governor Hochul declared a State of Emergency with cold temperatures and 12”-18” snow predicted for the Hudson Valley; Dutchess County issued a ban on non-essential vehicular traffic from 5am January 25, to 5pm January 26, 2026; the Beacon City School District closed school for Monday due to the travel ban; and the Beacon Police insisted that people not park in the street or they will be towed.

For walking customers, Key Food Beacon was open with shelves stocked, the world-famous HÅKAN Chocolatier was open with shovel ready, Tara Fusion in the Hudson Valley Food Hall was open for people to visit if they got stir-crazy and needed lunch in between snow blowing or sidewalk shoveling.

Beacon Moves Trash Cans In Anticipation Of Huge Amounts Of Snow Removed From Main Street

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The City of Beacon’s Highway Department today moved the green metal trash cans from the curb edges to be near storefronts so that the trash cans don’t get knocked down, in anticipation of the snowfall predicted for Sunday into Monday. Sometimes, shop owners or pedestrians may move them back, not realizing that the City moves them out of the way in anticipation of high amounts of snow being cleared off Main Street.

If the accumulation is high enough, the Highway Department may plow or clear up onto parts of sidewalks where they are able to get to.

The City of Beacon has since issued a No Parking order for all City streets from Sunday 7am to Monday 7pm. People are encouraged to use the free municipal parking lots, including the DMV parking lot. The City has closed the Beacon Farmer’s Market on Sunday in anticipation of this need for public parking during this blizzard.

Dutchess County issued travel restrictions for all non-essential personnel starting on Sunday at 5am. Dutchess County Transit bus service will also be suspended on Sunday and Monday, according to an announcement from the City of Beacon.

Attacker's Description Released For Tioronda Ave. Assault Investigation; Police Chief Addresses Timing Of Description Release

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3rd UPDATE ARTICLE 1/15/2026: This article you are currently reading.

2nd UPDATE ARTICLE 1/15/2026: An update to this article has been published here.

1st ARTICLE 1/14/2026: The first article.

The City of Beacon Police Department has released a third statement on 1/15/2026 asking the public for help identifying the suspect who attacked the woman on Tioronda Avenue Wednesday morning. The Police are seeking camera footage from everyone, city-wide. Could have been dark for when the suspect headed toward the scene, and light when the suspect left the scene.

Everyone from every neighborhood, including all neighborhoods close to the mountain or by the river or Main Street or back roads, are encouraged to check their footage from early morning into later in the day.

The description of the male suspect is as follows:

"As of this time we are requesting that individuals check any available cameras, in Beacon, for footage from 1/14/2026, of a:

  • white male

  • wearing a black jacket or coat (not a puff coat)

  • a black knit hat and blue pants or jeans

  • possibly being in his 30s-40s

  • approximately 5'11" with a medium build

  • having a brown, very close beard

“If anyone has any footage depicting an individual that could fit that description or most of that description, please immediately contact the City of Beacon Police Department at 845-831-4111.”

Beacon Police Chief Figlia’s Response To The Public

Beacon Chief of Police Tom Figlia went on to address the public, acknowledging their concerns, saying: "We do not take the public's concerns lightly at all. Had it been appropriate to release this information earlier, we would have."

Members of the public who specialize in sexual assault and domestic violence, and are survivors themselves, have been lending their voices to ease people's reactions by reminding them to center the victim in this traumatic situation. That victims are going through a range of emotions, including extreme fear, and need time to process.

Chief Figlia continued: "Had it been appropriate to release this information earlier, we would have. Please understand that this is a sensitive investigation and that in certain, traumatic cases, it is not even appropriate to fully take a statement from a victim until time has passed."

In Chief Figlia's 2nd press release statement, he alluded to the patience they were taking with the victim as she began her physical recovery.

"It would therefore be irresponsible for us to prematurely release information which we, objectively, could not rely on," he stated.

"We, again, must also balance the public's need to know with the needs of the victim's privacy and the potential to compromise an investigation and/or prosecution. The department is continuing to devote its full resources to this investigation and is receiving assistance from other agencies as well."

Anyone with relevant information is urged to contact the Beacon Police Department at 845-831-4111.

Violent Assault Jolts Beacon Community; Privacy Of Victim Respected; Community Left Unsettled

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Tioronda Avenue, in the direction of where the woman was found in the woods after being attacked and “seriously assaulted” Wednesday morning while walking, according to Beacon Police. This is on the other side of Wolcott Avenue, near Sargent Elementary School.

3rd UPDATE ARTICLE 1/15/2026: A description of the attacker has been released by the Beacon Police Department.

2nd UPDATE ARTICLE 1/15/2026: This article you are currently reading.

1st ARTICLE 1/14/2026: The first announcement of this attack.

The Beacon community was jolted on Wednesday when news of a violent assault of a woman, allegedly walking her dog along Tioronda Avenue early in the morning, circulated on social media and in personal texts. While few details of the attack have yet to be officially confirmed, the Beacon Police Department wrote in a press release that "the victim is in stable physical condition." 

Chief of Police Thomas Figlia noted in the press release that "though we understand the public's safety concerns and desire to know more, the department must balance that with our obligation to the victim's privacy and wellbeing.” He confirmed that at this time, a suspect has not been identified.

When the Beacon Police Department issued their first press release, their wording was vague, leaving community members frustrated, as Chief Figlia referred to the event as: “a possible, past occurred assault on Tioronda Ave. in the area of Wolcott Ave." But people had seen police activity in the area just that morning, and the text already circulated.

The term “past occurred” indicated no time - 5 days ago or 5 hours ago, and “possible” indicates that the assault did not happen at all, or that doubt was placed on the person who said they experienced the assault. Phone calls and FOIL requests to the Police Department, and social media posts about the department were made by the public to attempt to push the department to release more information for public safety and tip gathering.

A second statement was issued later in the afternoon with more detail, such as confirmation of the assault and time of arrival of the police. That release also stated that she “may have been the victim of a crime,” but did not state what the crime was, before confirming that she was “seriously assaulted” in the next sentence. In the text circulating on social media, she had been allegedly been walking her dog, who allegedly connected with humans, alerting them to the woman’s whereabouts. However, detail of the dog was not in the Police Department press release.

By the time the first press release was posted to the Police Department’s Facebook, many people in the public knew alleged details, which included an elementary school lockout. But none of that was mentioned in the first statement, which angered the public, as the Police Department held tight to protecting the privacy of the victim and the integrity of the investigation.

The public was not demanding to know the identity or description of the victim - who is now a survivor who has a journey of physical and emotional healing before her - but was demanding to know location and timing so as to keep themselves and loved ones safe from a future attack. Hearing that the attacker was not found in the surrounding area was not received as a comfort, but as a concern, as the person is still at large, with so far, no description.

To say Tioronda and Wolcott by itself indicates multiple locations of violent actions occurring - usually on the side between Main Street, like this one; and the murder of Rene Vivo “Scout” that resulted from a stabbing on Main Street that remains unsolved. It was because of the circulating text that the community learned it was on the other side of Wolcott, the side of Sargent Elementary school which is very isolated and wooded with hills and rocks, with houses and the new residential apartment buildings known as the Arno at 248 Tioronda.

Also not confirmed in the press release was the woman’s dog, and the dog’s alleged involvement in alerting humans to be able to find her in the woods. Many people with and without dogs walk, jog and bike down that strip of Tioronda. First instinct of most community members was to think about which area to avoid on their outing that day, and if any stranger was lurking. Parents thought about their children walking home from school, especially if on that path, and if they wanted to pick up their children instead.

Paramount to protecting the victim, the Beacon Police felt it necessary to not include any details. The second press release urged people to have caution as they would any day when outside. But the public felt they needed more information in order to maintain that caution, as the attacker remains at large.

This, in the context of a federal blessing of immunity on violence unleashed on women and people of color, which is playing out in Minnesota and other cities in the country. One ALBB reader said of the first press release: “This is not enough information to keep people safe. They’re not saying what happened.”

The First Wave Of Information

The Dutchess County Scanner Feed group in Facebook, run by moderator Patrick O'Dell, published a notice that there was increased police presence in Beacon at 10:30am. That action alone triggered people to text their people with an alert. Hours after that, Patrick closed comments on his post, saying that people had broken his page’s rules by speculating on the situation.

By then, the text of alleged details had been sent to ALBB and published in at least one private Facebook group. ALBB emailed Chief Figlia saying we would wait to publish anything until the Police Department issued a press release. A source told ALBB that police activity was seen that morning at the Arno residential building parking lot at 248 Tioronda, where a tent had been set up in the parking lot near a construction trailer where police vehicles were parked. The tent was allegedly broken down shortly after that and police vehicles left, the source said.

Meanwhile at Dutchess County Scanner Feed, Patrick did a hard close of comments saying: “Apparently, if I forget to turn off commenting on a post a bunch of people decide to disregard/disrespect all rules of the page, others, PD & me. EVERYONE has been banned or suspended who did so. Wasted time but I decided to still do it. Thanks to all the others."

When the Beacon Police Department published their first press release, Patrick reposted it to his Dutchess County Scanner Feed, saying in part: “I do not want non factual information, or details put out to the public that could possibly interfere with their investigation. I CANNOT STOP ANYONE FROM VISITING THOSE BEACON PAGES AND READING WHAT IS ON THEM. I can only control what is posted here for the integrity of the page.”

When the Beacon PD’s first press release published, barely any detail was confirmed. Not the gender of the person, age, location or time. It was assumed that the perpetrator was still at large. Not knowing if this was an intimate partner domestic violence situation, or a random attack, or a combination of both.

Police activity parked at the Arno residential building the Wednesday morning of the assault, where a tent was set up and then broken down.

In response, community members took to other groups to get the information out. The text was shared in a group in an effort to encourage women to walk in pairs and to be alert and careful. A group participant stated that Sargent Elementary had conducted a lockout, which is located in the vicinity of the attack.

The first press release mentioned Beacon City Schools, but only that they had been alerted that a search was being conducted. ALBB sought out and received confirmation that Sargent’s principal emailed school families an email which they received at 11:02am that Sargent had conducted a lockout, which locked the doors of the school while kids continued learning inside. Other schools did not go on lockout. It is noteworthy for this and future emergency situations that caregivers were alerted during the school day close to when the incident happened, and not at the end of the day.

The second press release confirmed the lockout, stating: “Upon arrival it had been determined that there was reason to believe that the female victim had been seriously assaulted. At that time, given the proximity to the Sargent School, the Beacon City School District was notified and advised to place the school on lockout until the area could be searched.” No one was found in the search, the statement confirmed.

To provide context of when district families are robo-called about an incident at school: when a school goes on lockdown or lockout, district families are robo-called about that; if it is a practice drill or unexpected occurrence. This week, in fact, a bat was found in the Beacon High School. District families were robo-called immediately about the bat, which was contained by pest control within the day.

In this situation, Sargent families were emailed by their principal about the lockout related to the assault. Families at other schools were not alerted. ALBB sought out and received content of the email, but not yet received confirmation of the time of which the parents were emailed as of this publishing. Part of the email read: “Out of an abundance of caution, Sargent was placed in a ‘lockout’ for approximately 90 minutes while there was a police investigation on Tironda Avenue.”

Details Confirmed In The Beacon Police Department’s Second Press Release

Chief Figlia stated in the second release of the department:

"On 1/14/2026 at approximately 9:20am the Beacon Police Department received a call from Dutchess County 911 to assist Fire and EMS who had responded to a call regarding a female who was unconscious in the area of Tioronda Ave. and Wolcott Ave. and may have been the victim of a crime.

"Upon arrival it had been determined that there was reason to believe that the female victim had been seriously assaulted. At that time, given the proximity to Sargent School, the Beacon City School District was notified and advised to place the school on a lockout until the area could be searched. The area around the school was searched and no one was located. Therefore, BCSD was advised of the same. As of that time the department was confident that the suspect was not in the that immediate area.

"The victim is in stable, physical, condition. Given the nature of the incident, however, the department is, even now, still working with her in order to determine key details of the crime. Because of this, we are not releasing any information that is not yet fully confirmed. Additionally, though we understand the public's safety concerns and desire to know more, the department must balance that with our obligation to the victim's privacy and wellbeing as well as our obligation not to put out information that could compromise this investigation. We are urging others to also please respect this victim's privacy as much as possible.

"At this time a suspect has not been identified, nor is anyone is custody. As with any other time, people should use caution, be aware of their surroundings and report any suspicious activity to the police. If anyone has any information specific to this case, we again urge you to call 845-831-4111."

People who have experienced Sexual Assault or know someone who has are encouraged to contact RAINN for help, healing and resources.

Possible Assault On Tioronda Ave. Near Wolcott Ave.; Investigation Remains Open

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3rd UPDATE ARTICLE 1/15/2026: A description of the attacker has been released by the Beacon Police Department.

2nd UPDATE ARTICLE 1/15/2026: An update to this article has been published here.

1st ARTICLE 1/14/2026: This article. Each article will have these links in the series.

Several tips came in to A Little Beacon Blog this morning about a possible assault to a person along Tioronda Avenue.

At 10:30am, the Dutchess County Scanner Feed made an awareness post that there was a "heavy police presence in Beacon."

Readers wrote into ALBB with more information, at which point, ALBB emailed the Chief of Police Tom Figlia requesting a Press Release to report from, knowing that the work of the Police Department requires precision and time and that they usually do not release information to reporters during an open investigation or when actively pursuing someone at large.

At around 1:30pm, the Beacon Police Department issued a Press Release, stating that the Department is investigating a "possible, past occurred assault on Tioronda Ave. in the area of Wolcott Ave."

ALBB emailed Chief Figlia for further information on what "past occurred" means - if it means that the "possible" assault happened hours ago or days ago. A response has not been received as of this publishing.

The Press Release stated that the Beacon City School District was notified as a precaution during the investigation and check of the area. "The area was checked and there does not appear to be a specific danger to the public in that area at this time," the Police Department said in the statement.

The investigation remains ongoing. People who may have information or were witness are asked to contact the City of Beacon Police Department at 845-831-4111.

Targeted Water Boil Alert Issued For At Least 4 Days After Water Main Is Repaired By City Of Beacon

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A targeted Boil Water Advisory has been issued for at least 4 days by the City of Beacon for businesses and residents “along Fishkill Avenue from Conklin Street to the Town of Fishkill border, including all side streets,” according to the City’s Facebook announcement. After issuing updates via social media during the day, the City announced that they have completed the emergency repairs, and that water service is fully restored. “We also are grateful to our Water Dept which went above and beyond today to address this emergency,” they said.

While they have been advising people who experience brown water coming out of their faucets to run cold taps until water runs clear, they have issued a Boil Water Advisory for specific streets.

According to the Boil Water Advisory, the water main break happened at 9:30am on Wednesday, January 7, 2026. “The water system lost pressure due to significant water main break on 10 inch water,” the document said. Beacon’s City Administrator told the Highland Current that the pipes were not those of the new infrastructure work conducted in the major upgrade at Fishkill/Teller Avenue over the past year in that area, but was due to an old pipe breaking. Also at that time, he said that the water was “safe to use.

Beacon City Schools will resume classes tomorrow Thursday. Dr. Landahl robo called/texted/emailed district families to let them know that students can return, and thanked the Transportation Department for making scheduling changes during the day, the Administration Department offices for fielding phone calls, and the Facilities Department for checking on the buildings this evening.

Boil Water Notice Issued

At 7pm, the City of Beacon posted their Water Boil Notice, which advises people on those streets mentioned to boil their water for at least 4 days and 12 hours. It is posted below, and typed out in full for people to read.

BOIL YOUR WATER BEFORE USING

Bring tap water to a rolling boil, boil for one minute, and cool before using. Or use bottled water certified for sale by the New York State Department of Health. Boiled or bottled water should be used for drinking, making ice, washing dishes, brushing teeth, and preparing food until further notice.

This Boil Water Notice applies to Fihkill Avenue from Conklin Street to the City border at Prospect Street including Meade Avenue, Desoto and State Street.

What Happened?

At about 9:30am on January 2026, the water system lost pressure due to significant water main break on 10 inch water. When water mains lose pressure it increases the chance that untreated water and harmful microbes can enter your water.

Harmful microbes in drinking water can cause diarrhea, cramps, nausea, headaches, or other symptoms and may pose a special health risk for infants, some elderly, and people with severely compromised immune systems. But these symptoms are not just caused by microbes in drinking water. If you experience any of these symptoms and they persist, you should seek medical advice.

What Is Being Done?

City of Beacon personnel installed a new section of water main and a contractor installed additional valving to assist with the isolation. City of Beacon Operators will be conducing bacterial sampling of the water for safety.

It is likely that you will need to boil water for the next 4 days 12 hours until the problem is fixed. You will be informed when tests show that you no longer need to boil your water.

For more information, please contact Edward Balicki of the city of Beacon at 845-831-3136 or the Dutchess County Department of Health at 845-486-3404.

Please share this information with other people who drink this water especially anyone who may not get this notice directly (for example, people in apartments, nursing homes, schools, and businesses). You can do this by posting this notice in a public place or distributing copies by hand or mail.

State Water System ID: NY 1302760
Date Distributed: January 7. 2026

Water Main Break Off Rte 52 Causes Low Pressure As Beacon Water Department Repairs; School Issues Emergency Early Dismissal; Businesses Impacted

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Updates from the City of Beacon are available in this next article here.

The City of Beacon is currently experiencing low water pressure city-wide due to a water main break off Fishkill Avenue down the embankment from the car wash that the Beacon Water Department is currently managing and working to repair. The break was underground, so water was not spilling into public areas. They shut all valves available to contain, and are awaiting a part to be delivered. City officials say that drinking water is being maintained and is safe to drink for those who do have water.

At 11:07am, Beacon City School District Superintendent Dr. Landahl issued a robo call/text/email advising district families of an emergency early dismissal, and released the stacked release schedule with buses accommodating students who normally ride the bus.

After dismissal, Beacon High School Principal Dr. Dwyer updated district families with how field trips in progress would continue working, with pickups and other modes of previously scheduled transportation. He said: “Just a quick note of thanks to our students for their patience and cooperation during the time that we were without water and during our early dismissal. Parents and guardians, thank you for your understanding and support.”

At 11:19am, the City of Beacon issued a robo call/text/email announcing the water main break, and advising residents about the water. The alert said: "This is the City of Beacon, reaching out to inform you of a major water main break along Fishkill Avenue. Portions of the City will experience service disruption, and other areas may experience low pressure. Check the City Facebook page for updates as to timing for restored service. Once water is available again, or if you experience any discoloration, run cold water taps until water runs clear. Thank you for your patience while this emergency infrastructure work is completed."

At 1:30pm, the City of Beacon issued an update in their original post: "City-wide may experience low-pressure as repairs are done. Thank you for patience as these emergency repairs are being completed. More updates will be posted here and the City website, as available. We currently do not have an estimated time for the restoration of water service."

By 2pm, the water pressure remained low but consistent. Stinson's Hub on Rte. 52 confirmed that they needed to close due to no water. However Roma Nova, down the road, remains open. The Fresenius Kidney Care Beacon Dialysis across from the stadium was unable to run treatments for a period of time due to the water main break and directed patients to other locations or rescheduled treatments.

By 2:30pm, some residences experienced increased water pressure.

The City of Beacon Fire Department reported that the fire hydrants are included in the possible water loss and low water pressure, and issued a calling back of any available off duty personal, saying on their Facebook page:

"Due to a large water main break on Fishkill Ave, leaving possibly half the City without water (including fire hydrants), a 10-35 has been transmitted calling back any available off duty personnel.

Engine 33-15 is currently staffed with 3 Career Firefighters.
Engine 33-16 is staffed with 1 Lieutenant and 2 Career Firefighters.
Ladder 33-48 is staffed with 1 Lieutenant and 2 Career Firefighters.”

During the City of Beacon's budget process in October 2025, Fire Chief Tom Lucchesi requested that the City Council consider adding more professional fire fighters to the staff for Beacon.

The City of Beacon's Water Department is a finely tuned department and is known for fixing issues as quickly as they can.

This is a developing story as updates are made by the City of Beacon. Citizens are encouraged to refresh the City of Beacon's Facebook page and main website. People may also leave tips here at A Little Beacon Blog in the Comments below or by emailing in describing how they are/were impacted by the water main break.

Why Stewart Airport? A Deep Dive Into Kidnapped Venezuelan President Maduro and Wife Cilia Flown To Stewart While Trump and Netanyahu Remain At Large

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New York Times article reporting that at least 40 civilians and some military officials were killed in Venezuela by the U.S. air strike conducted to kidnap President Maduro and first lady Cilia. Pictured is Wilman Gonzalez, who carries furniture from his home. His aunt, Rosa Gonzalez, 80, lived with him, was killed in the attack,
Photo Credit: New York TImes;

Early Saturday morning, as residents and visitors of Beacon checked their socials for news and uplifting content after coasting through Friday’s extension of the entrance to the New Year, they learned that the 47th president of the United States ordered the kidnapping of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife Cilia Adela Flores de Maduro, who is a Venezuelan lawyer and politician.

The U.S. air strike to seize the couple resulted in the killing of 40 people in Venezuela, including military officials and civilians, the New York Times reported who sourced Venezuelan officials, Here’s Why With Kevin reported. Also highlighted was that an 80 year old woman named Rosa Gonzalez was killed by the air strike, one which “ripped through her apartment.” It was reported that she lived in a 3-story apartment building in Catia La Mar near the Caracas airport among other elderly residential neighbors, who were also badly injured.

The Venezuelan President and First Lady were flown to Stewart Air National Guard Base on Saturday evening, which has an office for U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP), a Department of Homeland Security (DHS) component, according to DHS’ website.

Why Stewart?

The unexpected association of Stewart Airport and Newburgh with the Venezuelan kidnapping has prompted many Hudson Valley locals to ask: “Why Stewart?”

The airport started as Stewart Airfield, located in the Town of Newburgh, NY, and opened in 1934 under the direction of Douglas MacArthur, General and former Chief of Staff of the United States Army, on land donated by “a 19th-century Scottish-born sea captain, Lachlan Stewart, and his son.” It was built out for the then original Department of War during WWII.

In 1948, the Stewart air force base became a base for the then newly formed United States Air Force and was called the Stewart Air Force Base. The year of 1948 is also the year of the Nakba in Palestine (aka النَّكْبَة, “the catastrophe”) which was the beginning of the forced displacement and ethnic cleansing of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to set up the occupation for what is now labeled as Israel. Stewart Air Force Base continued training missions with West Point.

The base was deactivated in 1970 and was taken over by New York State to become a civilian airport, known more widely as Stewart International Airport (which only had one international airline, which just left) and locally for cheap flights for Florida and Iceland (but not anymore), as well as inconsistent arrangements with commercial air carriers who pull out of servicing the airport amid multi-million dollar improvement grants for Stewart International Airport.

In 1980, the base was opened in an agreement with New York State and the New York Air National Guard (ANG), and is now also known as Stewart Air National Guard Base, according to Wikipedia. The following year, American hostages freed from Iran were flown to the base.

Questions About The International-ness of Stewart International Airport

But wait - is Stewart International Airport even commercially International anymore? Aside from flying in kidnapped dictators or presidents from outside the country?

The Chronogram asked in July 2025 when news broke that international airline Play pulled out: “For Hudson Valley-area residents with a taste for travel, Play’s parting is most unwelcome news, and questions abound as to why airlines keep failing there, and about what comes next for the beleaguered airport.”

The Chronogram also pointed out in their article: “The airline’s departure is expected to cut into already lagging airport traffic. Following a peak of over 900,000 passengers in 2007 and $220 million in investments since then, the airport received just 277,000 passengers last year, according to data from the airport’s operator, Port Authority of New York and New Jersey.”

Who is getting all of the infrastructure investments?

The Charges To Try To Justify Kidnapping Circle Back To Tren de Aragua

In addition to Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, the indictment also charges Maduro’s son, Nicolas Ernesto Maduoro Guerra, Diosado Cabello Rondon, Ramon Rodriguez Chachin, and Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores (aka Niño Guerrero, the supposed leader of Tren de Aragua, the group alluded to often when ICE is kidnapping someone in the United States for deportation).

The charges, as reported by CNBC, include a narco-terrorism conspiracy charge; cocaine importation conspiracy; possession of machine guns and destructive devices; and conspiracy to possess machine guns and destructive devices. The charges can be read here.

Protests At Stewart Air National Guard Base

Before being flown to New York City for detainment of Maduro and Cilia, the plane was met by protesters organized in part by Mid Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists. “We got word earlier in the afternoon that they were flying Maduro in,” a source told A Little Beacon Blog. “So we went and protested the whole day.”

Protest posters read: “No War For Venezuelan Oil” and “Kidnapped President Inside” and “Hands Off Venezuela” and “No Illegal War,” among others.

“No War On Venezuela,” Mid Hudson Valley Democratic Socialists declared on their Instagram. “We won’t stand for the Trump administration’s unilateral attack on Venezuela. A U.S. Military plane brought President Maduro to Stewart Airport today, while our members held the line outside to make it clear: this war will hurt working people across the globe. We stand in solidarity with the sovereign people of Venezuela and call on Congress to pass a War Powers Resolution to block Trump’s military aggression.”

Photojournalist Alexa B. Wilkinson was on the scene and filmed this video, giving ALBB permission to publish.

Alexa reported what they witnessed at the scene: “On Jan 3 at 21:30 UTC, Nicolas Maduro’s transport flight landed at Stewart Air [National Guard] Base in Newburgh, NY. OTG (On The Ground) press wasn’t able to get anywhere close to the part of the base where he was disembarking, however press choppers were circling above providing footage now widely seen of DEA & FBI agents boarding the plane and preparing him for his NYPD chopper ride down to NYC. Locals came out to film and watch the base from afar, causing traffic jams on NY-17K and a spectacle at the restaurant across the street. From a distance, you could see transport vehicles circling a plane moving into different positions, but it’s unknown which agency they belonged to.”

Photos by Alexa B. Wilkinson at Stewart Airport:

Photo Credit: Complex

Complex reported on New York’s Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s statement expressing concern about the taking of the Venezuelan President: “The blatant pursuit of regime change doesn’t just affect those abroad. It directly impacts New Yorkers, including tens of thousands of Venezuelans who call this city home. My focus is their safety and the safety of every New Yorker, and my administration will continue to monitor the situation and issue relevant guidance.”

Some people in the Comments who said they were from Venezuela told the new mayor to “sit this one out,” and supported Maduro being taken out of power. Meanwhile, the United States President is suspected of pedophilia and convicted of 34 felony accounts of falsified business records for hush money for a sex scandal. He was successfully sued for sexual assault for $88.3 million in awarded damages, while other lawsuits may begin after release of the Epstein Files. Yet, no one has violently taken him out of power for these crimes.

Regarding the local landing, the Town of Newburgh’s Mayor Torrance Harvey stated on his Facebook page: “The United States President has Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro in custody!!! They first arrived at the Newburgh Stewart Airbase!! They are in transit to a Brooklyn Detention Center!! This is developing right now!!”

On Friday, Neuhaus did express disappointment that ICE allegedly wants to convert a warehouse into a detention center. News12 reported that “the owner of a vacant warehouse formerly used by Pep Boys in the Chester Industrial Park told the county ICE officials have been inquiring about using the warehouse as a detention center for immigrants.”

News12 reported that Neuhaus said he is “disappointed since the county has been hoping the warehouse would become a film studio.” Further, “County Executive Steve Neuhaus said he does not want to deal with clashes between ICE agents and protesters and that he does not want the county to host a facility that might be holding good, innocent people.”

Meanwhile, more leaders with actual arrest warrants have gone uncaptured by United States law enforcement while recently spending New Year’s Eve partying with the U.S. President in Mar-a-Lago in Florida. “International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for two senior Israeli officials, Benjamin Netanyahu, the prime minister of Israel, and Yoav Gallant, the former Minister of Defense of Israel, alleging responsibility for the war crime of starvation as a method of warfare and the crimes against humanity of murder, persecution, and other inhumane acts during the Gaza war,” reads Wikipedia. Netanyahu and his wife were left unbothered at Trump’s Florida residence.

Colombia’s President Petro issued a statement against the kidnapping, while the U.S. president told Colombia’s President to “watch his a**.” President Petro said: “A clan of pedofiles wants to destroy democracy in Colombia." He went onto to talk about the politics of Venezuelan leadership, then said: "Nor would I trick the people of Venezuela into a trap of an invasion that is only about their oil, driven by greed and violence, to turn this beautiful corner of South America into another Syria, another Iraq, another Libya full of slaves, slave trading and new forms of slavery.”

In Shopping News - The Gray Nike Track Suit

Meanwhile, Maduro’s grey Nike track suit he was wearing while captive in transport to New York City is trending. Marca reports that the Nike track suit sold out hours after the kidnapping, but may still be available in stores. Check A Little Beacon Blog’s Shopping Guide for where you can find and buy Nike gear and other name brands in one of the several vintage shops located here on Main Street.

Marca.com calls Stewart airport simply: “a military airport.” Perhaps they know best, and those of us in the Hudson Valley region will never get the true international airport we deserve.

Resurrected: New Community Fridge Is Open From Partnership Between Fareground And Howland Public Library

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A third, but currently only, refrigerator as part of Fareground’s Community Fridge Program has opened inside of Beacon’s Howland Public Library. This, coming after a tumultuous removal of the first two community refrigerators in June and September 2025 as a result of some neighbor complaints at the relocation of the first fridge from Binnacle Books to a residence at 23 Cliff Street, and the City of Beacon’s eviction of the second community fridge at the City’s Parks and Recreation building at 23 West Center Street.

The free toiletries and hygiene collection available to anyone in need at Beacon’s Howland Public Library.
Photo Credit: Katie Hellmuth

According to Michelle Rivas, Adult Services & Community Engagement Librarian for the library, who spoke to A Little Beacon Blog about the program, the Howland Public Library had been in talks with Fareground for a possible partnership to offer a 3rd refrigerator to the community before the first two were removed. The library already has a Tiny Food Pantry inside, as well as an Essentials collection, which offers free toiletries, socks, underwear and other needs to any person in need.

“When the SNAP benefits were paused and the other fridges in Beacon were removed,” Michelle told ALBB, “we knew it was the time to get things moving.”

When some people in the Beacon community reacted with outrage over the removal of both community refrigerators, Beacon’s City Administrator Chris White had Heidi Harrison, the Assistant Recreation Director for the City of Beacon’s Parks and Recreation Department, deliver what could be viewed as a humiliating critique of the Parks and Recreation’s view of Fareground’s management of the refrigerator.

To justify his eviction of the community refrigerator during the October 15, 2025 City Council Meeting, City Administrator Chris had Heidi present pictures of the fridge at different points over its lifetime, as Chris sat behind her in the jury box of the City courtroom, insisting on code enforcement of the community refrigerator at levels that restaurants need to reach and maintain. Chris also made unfounded criticisms of the type of food offered from the fridge by anonymous donors, saying his own mother wouldn’t take food from it. He then played the religion card, saying food that respects ethnic and religious diets was not offered. Some community members called his guided presentation “unhinged,” and KK Devina, former member of the now disbanded Commission on Human Relations, called for his resignation. Meanwhile, many adults, kids and teenagers took snacks and other food from the refrigerator on a regular basis, and vocalized missing the resource.

“We are so grateful to Howland Public Library and the Friends of Howland Public Library for their commitment to food access in Beacon. Libraries are vital resources and community gathering spaces. Adding a community fridge makes our local library even more welcoming.”
— Jamie Levato, Executive Director of Fareground

City Administrator Chris’ ultimate recommendation was for the City of Beacon to hand out food cards to people to buy their own food. This partially happened during the SNAP food crisis, where Mayor Kyriacou proposed grocery gift cards to certified SNAP recipients only, and no one else. City Council approved $50,000 to be spent on the food access initiative at the November 3, 2025 City Council Meeting. The money was transferred from the “City Council - Planning Studies” budget earmark, to “Food Assistance - Community Outreach.”

New Refrigerator Partnership Between Howland Public Library and Fareground

Purchase of this new refrigerator was sponsored by the Friends of the Library, Michelle told ALBB. The Friends of the Library is a fundraising extension of the Howland Public Library that has its HQ next to the library - The Beacon Reads Bookstore - which sells used books, staffed by volunteers.

“We are so grateful to Howland Public Library and the Friends of Howland Public Library for their commitment to food access in Beacon. Libraries are vital resources and community gathering spaces. Adding a community fridge makes our local library even more welcoming,” said Jamie Levato, Executive Director of Fareground. “Our Fridge/Pantry Care team is still seeking host sites for additional Beacon Community Fridges. Please reach out if you would like to host a fridge or pantry or if you would like to join the care team.”

Opening day was Tuesday, December 23rd, before the library was closed Wednesday - Friday for the holiday. The library was open until 8pm that evening. Fareground mentioned that a ribbon cutting is being scheduled for January 2026, which is when donations from the general public will begin being accepted. Guidelines will be released of what can and cannot be accepted into the Community Fridge also at that time.

The new refrigerator has a glass door. “It was important to us to select a fridge with a glass door so it was easier for community members to easily see what was available,” Michelle told ALBB. “The glass door also makes it easier and for the library outreach team and Fareground volunteers to monitor the fridge and keep it clean and safe,” she concluded.